Mechanically-actuated horn or alarm.



M. R. HMCHISON.

MECHANICALLY ACT'UATED; nonu 0R ALARM.

APPLICATION HLED NE 1. 1910. 1,170,158. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I M h! Suva/n ['0'0 @513 elffozuma M. R. HUTCHISON.

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED HORN 0R ALARM.

APPLICATION r1150 JUNE 7. 1910.

1,170,158. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses: 0

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M. R. HUTCHISON.

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED HORN 0R ALARM.

APPLICATXON FILED )UN[ 7, 1910.

1.1'70,1 58. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT crimes.

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 LOVELL-MGCONNELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MECHANICALLY-ACTUATED HORN OR ALARM.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 1-, 191%.

Application filed June 7, 1910. Serial No. 565,564.

county of New York and State of New- York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanica1ly-Actuated Horns or Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

Myi present invention relates to alarms, signals, horns cite, wherein the sound is produced by a mechanically vibrated diaphragm. It involves a broadly novel apparatus wherein theintermittent or vibratory movement for inechanically' agitating the diaphragm, is generated by relative movement of friction surfaces of such nature and in such relation that internally originated, uniformly recurrent grips and releases are automatically set up. This intermittent grip and slip action between'the relatively moving friction surfaces is applied to vibrate the diaphragm. The sounds produced may be more or less musical, and may be loud and penetrating so as to render the device very efiicient as an alarm or signal. The friction surfaces have preferably, though not necessarily a high coefficient of friction, and are of such a character that relatively slight variations of intimacy of contact cause relatively enormous variations of friction. so that when they are relatively moved in yielding contact, they tend alternately to acquire great intimacy of contact, with enormous friction. causing driving-and driven member to move together, and then when increasing tension on the driven member causes. a slightseparation or variation of intimacy of contact of the surfaces, to cause an enormou decrease in the friction. In the extreme case the grip action is practically perfect and the succeeding slip is practically free and frictionless. In accordance with the preferred forms of the present invention one of the friction surfaces is formed on a rotor and the other on an intermittent grip member which is yieldingly or resiliently supported. zis by being connected to the resilient diaphragm or by connection to the diaphragm and another resilient support, or otherwise. \Vhei'i the rotor is started, the grip 11101111101, being held or brought against the surface thereof by suitable means, travels with the rotor, until the mo- I ment when the increasing tension of the diaphragm, or other force opposing the tractive effort, destroys the exceedingly ii1- timate union between the rotor and r member. The rotor continues, and the separation due to this relative slip betnecn the surfaces, causes a great and instantaneous drop in the amount of friction, so that the friction may be said to be almost annihilated for the moment; Consequently, the grip member, instead of either following the rotor, or remaining stationary with the ro- -tor traveling; beneath it, jumps back at high velocity under the influence of the tension of the diaphragm or other force. The surfaces now grip again, the intimacy of contactis restored, and the gripmember is again drawn forward, to be again released. The frequency and length of the slips, and consequently the frequenc and amplitude of vibration, will vary according to the particular friction surfaces selected, thespeed of the rotor, the degree of pressure holding the surfaces together, the elasticity of the diaphragm or the elfective magnitude of the force tending to produce'the retrograde slip of the grip member, and the inertia of the parts to be moved; but the presence of a sort of grip and slip or chatter-inn phenomenon, however such phenomenon may be modified by the conditions enumerated, is preferably attained by the use of friction surfaces having the properties described. A wide range of surfaces may be selected from amber and. hard rubber. wrought iron and hard rubber, wrought iron and rawhide, steel or bronze and catgut, and no'n-lubricated surfaces of the same metal of about the relative smoothness or roughnessprrr duced by the emery wheel, may be used as friction couples for the production of the grips and slips. Many other surfaces may be used. The surfaces may be produced by applying powdered resin to surfaces which would otherwise not possess the required properties or by'the use of resin the grip and slip action of surfaces within the class mav be greatly increased. Polishing and lubrication tend to decrease development of v the phenomenon so that with the other vari able factors above mentioned the desired 2 1 tion may always be secured. Friction faces of such a character or contacting such relation or under such conditions as to produce the grip and slip or chattering action. must be clearly distinguished from those by the use of which no such phenomenon would be produced, as for instance where lubrication of parts or their geometrical relation is such that the grip member tends to remain in a position of equilibrium on the traveling rotor under the opposed forces of the tension of the resilient support on the one hand and the tractive effort of the rotor on the other. The frequency and length of the slips of the grip member as determined b v.the above enumerated factors may be further controlled by using a diaphragn'i having a natural frequency of vibration corrcspomling to the note to be produced, and if a heavy resonator or horn be employed this resoi'iator may impose its nat ural period on the diaphragm; so that the sound will be produced primarily by the gripping and slipping of the friction sur-.

faces, but the resonator and diaphragm may h: ve a reactive effect in controlling the freiguency of these grips and slips. and also in increasing the amplitude of the oscillatory or reciprocatory grip and slip movements. The grip member may also have an appreciable movement toward and from the rotor under the influence of the vibrations of the diaphragm and where a pronounced chattering is produced as between hard metal surfaces, the movement toward and from the rotor may be considerable as compared with the movement along the surface of the rotor.

The invention is capable of embodiment in and performance with many dilferent structural forms and arrangements. In the accompanying drawings are illustrated a few of these.

In the said drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in. vertical section and partly in elevation of one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view with the resonator and front part of the diaphragm casing removed; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of therotor, brakeshoe, central portion of the diaphragm and connected parts; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the brake-shoe; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of another form of the invention; Fig. 6 is a-detail thereof; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of another form of the invention; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the operative parts shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of another form ofthe invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of another form of the invention; Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view of the operative parts volts, so that the motor maybe supplied by the regular sparking batteries of an automobile without materially affecting the sparkingcurrent; but of course the motor may be wound for higher voltages.

In the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a diaphragm, 2 a suitable casing in which the diaphragm is held, 3 a shaft ex tcnding within the casing substantially in parallelism with the diaphragm, and 4 a suitable casing in which is the electric motor for driving the shaft 3, which may be the armature shaft. -Thus, means are provided for driving the rotor at a uniform and comparatively high speed. The arrangements indicated are the same as shown in myeopending application Serial Number 494,120 filed May 5, 1909, but of course other arrangements may be used. cation, the shaft 3, and therefore the rotor may be adjusted toward and from the diaphragm 1, the means to this endherewith illustrated being the same as shown in that application. In accordance with this construction, the casing 4 is movable relatively to the casing 2. The 'cap of the casing 4 has a sleeve rotatably journaled in the casing 2, and adapted to be held rigid with the casing 2 by a nut 21. The shaft 3 revolves in an eccentric bore in the sleeve 20; so that rotation of the casing 4 and neck 20 adjusts the shaft with relation to the diaphragm.

A resonator or horn (3 adapted to serve as a projector or mouth piece is secured to the casing 2, to be excited by thediaphragm 1. This resonator may be of either of the two forms illustrated in my co-pending application Serial Number 494,120, filed May 5, 1909, or of other suitable form.

The external form of the. whole device adapts the signal for use particularly on aw tomobiles, but it may be used well for launches and other conveyances, anql'in factories and other places where an alarm is desirable.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, a rotor 7 is secured to the shaft 3' within the casing 2, as by means of nuts 8 or otherwise. Preferably, the periphery of this rotor is provided with a V-shaped groove. 9 is an embodiment of intermittent grip member, here a segmental brake-shoe, preferably V-shaped in cross-section, engaging a portion of the periphery of the rotor. One end of this grip member is connected to the diaphragm, by means of a link 10, and a riveted anchor 11, one end of the link being pivoted to the grip member and the-other end to the anchor. A coil tension spring 19 is secured to the other end of the brake segn'ient; and the outer end of this spring is secured to an adjusting screw 12, threaded into an opening in the casing 2. The rotor may be of wrought iron and the grip member of rawhide, or the As in that appli-.

rotor may he of amher and the grip member of hard rulil er. The hodjv' of the rotor may he of metal and the peripherv or periplaaal surface of amher (11 other suitable material having the properties already desrrihed. The dirertion of rotation of the rotor is indicated hy an arrow. The tension of the diaphragm l and of the spring 15" ali'ord the pressure for holding the friction surfaces together. This force is slight compared with the pull of which the grip llllflli tl is eapahle \vhile held in intimate gripping contact with therotor. with the rotor, flexing: the diaphragm inward. until the tension of the diaphragm finally equals the tractire effort of the r0- tor. when the movement of the grip member stops. The relati e slip thus prodneed pra rtically eliminates the friction for the m0- meat. and the grip member slips haclt under the tension of the diaphragm. The friction surfaces again grip. and tie actions are re peated, the movements of the grip member heing meehanieally transmittul to the diapln'agm. causing the latter to Vibrate and produce sound. Preferably. the pull of the diaphragm and. of the spring are exerted in directions substantially tangential to the pe riphery of the rotor. The. separation of the sin-fangs at the moment of relative, slip may be due in part to the pull of the spring. whieh as the brake travels around with the rotor tends to pull the end of the brake away from the rotor. The rotor may he driven in the direction opposite to that indicated by the, arrow, in which event the travel of the grip member with the rotor not/in opposition to the tension of the diaphragm. but to the tension of a spring such as it). in this case the diaphragm would he runinali}; bowed toward the rotor. However. the other ari'z'ingenient is preferred. in general. where desired. the diaphramn may he non wally howed. instead of ueing normally straight.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and (3 the grip member 9* in the nature of a rrii in frictional contact. will. the shalt 55. inch also the rotor. This coil is preferably l i ratirut. but may he of other materi: l. as rawhide. liavii the pi culial' frictional properties required. The shaft may lie of steel mi bronze and nut}: or may not he provided with a sleeve of amber or other suitable niateral secured rigidly thereto. ()ne end of the eoil mnnee'ted to an anchor '11 riveted to l '1 phragm. and the other end to an. adji ale gtillllfll', shown as consisting of luiol-i'. i ired to an internally threaded id. which has dole; tail engagement uiti i'.lli( l7 and re reives an adjusting ilvd' i 1- a iwled in the casing 2. The tint here is the same in fundamental prii'iri u with that described in connection with the. first form of the in The grip uiemhei' moves veution. 'lh: grips and slips needs. in the. same urinner. The roll grip nu-n'i er has an lM-illiitiiig movement. instead of a .uuuement of translation as in the other lllfillllifi. In the. form of the invention shuvvn in Figs. T and 8. the rotor 7" presents a friction face. Pressed against this face is a grip llllllll kl in the nature of a dislt 9*. in this form of the invention the diaphragm pia no part in holding the grip member aga 1st the rotor. Various yielding or resilient means may he provided for this purpose. desirable device is a spring yoke. :Zli, which is secured to the easing and presses upon the upper surface of the disk 9'. The, disk 9" is eonnecled to the diaphragm. by means of a link 2i. which is pivoted at one end oi the disk and at the other end to .lllt' llail' ll riveted to the diaphragm. The rotor '7 may he of machine steel and the disk 9 may he of l ronze. ()r the rotor nnzjv he of amher or have an amber surface or faring. and the dish may l e of hard will Ra a lri tion ilitilfil tl is. indiralml in drawing as being pmvided with an friction laein lltiitl suitable n ma he. 2:; vi. The grip and slip an. the same as in the. other instanim In J l have shown how the inn. of sullml that would he produred up means illuatrated may be smoothed out at a l Jug i'orlt or other vibration regulator.

so as wrndure a inusii'al not. lur

i pose in illustration this development oi th invention has lieen shown applied to the to riveted iroi'ineriion with the diaphragm. llowrmyr. this is, not essential. In Fig. l" i haw shown a loose or one-way ronnection l rtweon Elie grip member and the (llil'riil'iifi'iii. ul'iereh the grip member imparts a push on r to the diaphragm. For purpow n! ilnastratiun l have shown surh thrust mn ne 'tion as applied to th form of liar invention i1o'wn in Figs. 7 and 8. the dial: i provided Witl a rigid thrust EI'I'U je iion 'll. \S'lllill is not serur ed to the dia- 2. pliragni. It is obvious that the dire'iion of rotation is reversed. and the. thrust inem' her pushes the diaphragm on earh naiveiueni of the disk i) with the rotor. and jumps away from the diaplniuz m at ea h i slip. it l'ollons tho: the ovum-{ion tween the grip llli-llllitll' and the diaphragio may he suei as to impart pulls only, in other Words. a tension eonnertion.

Fig. 12 shows a construction in whieh the i313 grip member is secured to or is a part of the diaphragm structure. In the illustrative arrangement shown, a button or projection 9 is riveted or otherwise secured to the diaphragm and rests against the periphery of the circular rotor 7. The contacting surfaces of the two members may be of the same kind of metal, and may be of about the relative smoothness or roughness left by the emery wheel. The rotation of the rotor pulls the resiliently supported grip member 9, the grip is quickly released, and the member jumps or slips back. These movements of the member permitted by the yielding nature of the diaphragm, may be exceedinglyslight; but they are suliicient to initiate and maintain vibrations in the diaphragm, and, when the diaphragm is fully actuated, the member 9 has a considerable range of movement toward and from the periphery of the rotor in accordance with the vibrations of the diaphragm. Each inward vibration strikes the member 9 against the rotor, a momentary grip ensues, and the member is pulled forward slightly by the rotor, until the slip or separation occurs. These slight grip movements of the member 9" with the rotor are suiiicient to maintain the vibration of the diaphragm and the in and out movement of the member 9. In fact, after the surfaces first grip the action is in the nature of a jam of such force as to produce a very heavy pounding. In the best arrangement of this construction. the point of contact between the member 9 and the periphery of the rotor T is slightly in front of the radius perpendicular to the diaphragm. The offsetting of the projection 9 from this radius may be varied from a degree perhaps even greater than that shown substantially to zero, that is, with the point of contact substantially coincident with the radius. If desired the rotor may he provided on its periphery with a teasing or vibration initiating projection 12, in which event the diaphragm projection 9 need not normally be in contact with the rotor on may be in imperfect contact. This teasing projection may be low as compared with the amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm, so that it does not appreciably affect the sound when the diaphragm vibrations have reached their maximum. It will be understood that the first vibrations of the diaphragm are produced by the projection 12 striking the projection 9, but that thereafter the vibrations are due to the grip and slip action.

In the several forms of apparatus embodying the invention. the application of the grip and slip action to the diaphragm may be either central or eccentric of the diaphragm. If the diaphragm connection be eccentric a lever action is produced, in that the range of movement at the center of the cally any desired amplitude of diaphragm vibration may be produced.

Forms of apparatus employing a light flexible tension connection between the diaphragm and driver, such, for example, as

illustrated in Fig. 5, possess certain advantages, in that such a flexible member is comparatively unaffected by wear, and by reason of its slight inertia it may attain high velocity with the expenditure of comparative] y little power.

I claim:

1. In an'alarm or signal, a friction driver having its operating surface traveling in one direction, means for driving the same. a friction grip member, yieldinggly re strained against movement in the direction of travel constantly tending to contact with said driver, the friction surfaces of said driver and grip member being of a nature to grip with exceeding intimacy of contact and great friction and to suffer great diminutiou of friction upon severance of the union, whereby alternate grips and slips of the grip member are produced, and a diaphragm agitated by the chattering of the grip member for the production of loud sound.

2. In an alarm or signal, a friction driver havingits operating surface traveling in one direction. means for driving the same, a friction grip member yieldii'igly restrained against movement in the direction of travel constantly tending to contact with said driver, thefriction surfaces being of a nature to grip with exceeding intimacy of contact and great friction and .to suffer great diminution of friction upon the occurrence of relative slip, whereby alternate grips and retrograde slips of the grip mem er are produced, and a diaphragm having mechanical connection with said grip member so as to be agitated thereby.

In an alarm or signal, a friction rotor having its operating surface traveling in one direction, a friction grip member yieldingly restrained in the direction of travel constantly tending to contact with said ro tor, the friction surfaces of said rotor and grip member being of a nature to grip with extreme intimacy of contact and great friction and to suffer great diminution of friction upon severance of the union, whereby alternate grips and retrograde slips of the grip member are produced, and a diaphrar m arranged to be agitated by the chattering of the grip member for the production of loud sound.

4. In an alarm or signal, cooperating friction members constantly tending to cum tact with each other having surfaces of a.

high coefiicient of friction, means for driving one of said members in one direction in contact with the other, one of said members being yicldingly restrained in the direction of travel and haying a chattering action due to 'altern: ti gripping and slipping on the other of aaid members, a nd a. diaphragm nuu -hanically associated with one of said manila-rs so asto be agitated by said chatt ring action. I

5. In an alarm or si nal, cdtiperating friction i'nembersconstant y tending to contact with each other of a nature alternately to grip and slip, means for driving one of said members inv one direction, one of said members being resiliently yieldingly rcstrained in the direction of travel, and a diaphragm associated mechanically with the yieldaddc member so as to be agitated by the grip and slip action.

ii. In an alarm GIT-signal, a friction rotor, a. yieldingly restrainexl friction grip member constantly tending to contact with said rotor, thc' friction surfaces of said rotor and grip member being of a nature togrip and slip alternately, and a diaphragm asso ciated with said grip member so as to be agitated thereby for the production of loud sound.

7. In an alarm or signal, a friction rotor,

-a yieldingly restrained grip member constantly tending-to contact with, said rotor. the,;friction surfaces of said rotor and grip member being of a nature togrip and slip alternately, and a diaphragm agitated by said grip. member and having mechanical connection therewith whereby a force of increasing etl'ect tends to produce a retrograde slip of the grip member after each grip.

8. In an alarm or signal, a rflCilOXl driver,

member yieldingly restrained in the direction'ot' travel constantly tending to contact with said driver, resilient means holding said driver and grip member together, the friction surfaces being of such nature as to grip and slip alternately, and a diphragin aving mechanical actuating connection with said'grip member.

means for driving the same, a friction grip driver, the fri tion surfaces being of 1i i). in an alarm or signal, a friction cl'riv: having it opciziting silsi'acc t avcimg onc' direction, means iordriving tlir sasnc. a friction grip nzcn'ihcr viealingly rwiz-ainr-d in the direction of travel constant y Landing to contact with said driver. ilic friction bun faces of mid driver and grip member oi a nature to grip and slip altcrnatclyand re peatedly, and a diaphragm having in l-haul cal connection with said grip member Where by it is agitated thereby and controls the grip and slip action thereof.

10, in an alarm or signal, a friction driver having its: operating surface traveling in one lll't(.l"}il. a friction grip member yicld ingl restrained in the direction of travel constantlv tending to lollil ii with said nahire to grip andslip alternately, and a dim pbragm having niechanimil coi'ineetion .with said p'rip mcmh'cr whereby it is agitated thereby and controls the grip and slip action thereof.

ll. In an alarm or signal, co i 'icratiug friction members of a nature altcrnatclv to grip and slip, means for driving one oieaid members. one of said members being yield able in the direction of travel. a diaphragm associated me hanically with the yieli'lin ly restrained nicmher so as to be agitate-"l o the grip and slip action, and a vilnaiingg member interposed in such mechanical L'Ull nection and adaptcd to modify the vibration of said diaphragm.

12.111 an alarm or signal, a friction u drivcr, a yieldable friction' grip member. the friction surfaces being of a nature to grip and slip alternately and repeatedly, a diaphragm connected mwrlianicalljv aiti said grip member and a tuning tori; Hum posed in uch mechanical mi'nicction.

Signed at New .York city in the county of New Yorlcand ritate of New York this nth day of June, A. D. will.

MILLER REESE llll'ltllll fihl.

\Vitnesses:

J. HAnALsoN, InvrNo M. Onmnoirr; 

